Mazloum Abdi: new agreements with the government about judiciary file and Hasaka protests

The judiciary file is one of the most prominent issues that has witnessed setbacks in the implementation of the January 29th agreement signed between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Interim Government in recent weeks. This coincides with ongoing popular protests in the city of Hasaka in front of the courthouse, rejecting the marginalization of the Kurdish language on the building's sign and demanding a resolution to the judicial situation in the province.

In this context, ANHA agency conducted an interview with the SDF's Commander-in-Chief, Mazloum Abdi, to discuss the reasons for the stalled implementation of the judiciary file, the understandings reached with the Interim Government, and the recent developments concerning the removal of the Kurdish language from the Palace of Justice's sign in Hasaka, and the extent to which this aligns with the spirit of the recent agreement and Presidential Decree No. 13.

Abdi stated that "some problems emerged in this file about two weeks ago, and were a direct cause of the temporary disruption to the integration process." He indicated that the dispute began due to the lack of a clear mechanism for the integration of judges from the Autonomous Administration into the government within the integration process, and the accompanying concerns regarding the protection of their rights and the region's unique characteristics

Abdi explained that "the reaction from the judges and the judicial administration in the region was justified, as it represented a rejection of exclusion, which contradicts the essence of integration based on consensus rather than exclusion." He pointed out that the absence of a consensus agreement from the outset led to the stagnation of this process and the halting of the integration, which was reflected in public opinion.

He added that several meetings were held in Damascus and in areas of NE Syria at various levels following this setback, which began about two weeks ago. He noted that he personally convened a meeting with those concerned with the judiciary file to overcome the crisis and prevent it from becoming an obstacle to a comprehensive agreement.

According to Abdi, understandings were reached with the government that included accepting the integration of judges from the Autonomous Administration and not excluding them. Additionally, an agreement was reached to allow some individuals from the previous era (the Ba'athist era) to continue working in order to "ensure the continuity of citizens' cases and the smooth functioning of the system," through joint work between judges from the Autonomous Administration and judges who had previously served.

Abdi noted that lists of names of judges of the Autonomous administration, who constitute the largest group, were also handed over in preparation for enrolling them in government judicial courses and appointing them to the courts, stressing that the two sides agreed to expedite the resolution of this issue and the opening of judicial centers in the region, given the connection of many official services to it.

Abdi emphasized that the continued delay in the courthouse project is impacting numerous issues, including elections, passport procedures, land registry matters, and other transactions requiring judicial documents. He added that "resolving the courthouse issue is a key to resolving many other problems."

Regarding the removal of Kurdish from the courthouse sign in Hasaka, Abdi stated that the government justified this by claiming the courthouse is "a sovereign institution within the province and the sign should be in Arabic only." He added that representatives from the region did not want this disagreement to become another obstacle to the integration process.

Abdi explained that the agreement with the government includes the adoption of bilingual (Arabic and Kurdish) sign in predominantly Kurdish cities such as Kobani, Qamishlo, Derik, Amuda, and Darbasiyah, among others. He noted that the current sign in Hasaka was accepted "for a specific period" and will be reviewed later under new agreements.

He added that the popular reactions rejecting the exclusion of the Kurdish language were right and strong, especially among young people, stemming from the community's sensitivity to the issue of preserving the Kurdish language. Based on these developments, and taking into account the public protests and the sensitivity surrounding the judiciary and the institution, the matter was revisited.

Abdi stated that the issue was raised again in ongoing communication with government representatives, and an agreement was reached on the necessity of addressing the language and terminology issue at the courthouse in Hasaka in the next phase, in accordance with the practices in other Kurdish cities. He emphasized that the other party made "pledges" to resolve the problem and reinstate the sign in both Arabic and Kurdish, but at a later stage, not at present.

Abdi called on the residents, particularly the youth, to allow time for calm and for the understandings to be implemented on the ground, and to avoid disrupting the integration process and delaying other matters related to this institution.

In closing, the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Abdi, expressed his appreciation for the people’s great sensitivity towards preserving the Kurdish language, considering it a source of pride, while emphasizing the need to continue efforts to ensure the Kurdish language is enshrined in the Syrian constitution in the future

Sh-S

ANHA